History of Alexander Zverev in Timeline

Alexander Zverev, a German professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 3, has accumulated 24 ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles titles. While he has been a runner-up in three major tournaments, his significant achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and securing titles at the 2018 and 2021 ATP Finals. Notably, Zverev is the only player to have defeated both Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1986: Teenager records three consecutive victories

In 1986, Boris Becker achieved a feat as a teenager by recording three consecutive victories, a milestone later recognized in comparison to Alexander Zverev's achievement.

1990: Irina Zvereva goes to Germany to compete

In 1990, as the collapse of the Soviet Union was imminent, Irina Zvereva traveled to Germany to participate in a tournament, accompanied by her husband as her coach.

1995: Boris Becker's Season-Ending Championship Win

In 1995, Boris Becker was the last German player before Zverev to win the season-ending championships.

April 1997: Birth of Alexander Zverev

On April 20, 1997, Alexander Zverev was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Russian parents Irina Zvereva and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Tommy Haas Wins Silver at Sydney Olympics

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Tommy Haas won a silver medal, marking the last time a German man won a medal in singles tennis until Zverev's gold medal win.

2004: Defeating a top 20 opponent since Richard Gasquet

In 2004, Richard Gasquet accomplished a feat by defeating a top 20 opponent, setting a benchmark for young players in the sport and influencing Alexander Zverev's career.

2005: Youngest boys' champion since Donald Young

In 2005, Donald Young became the youngest boys' champion, a record Alexander Zverev later surpassed.

2006: Making a semifinal since Marin Cilic

In 2006, Marin Cilic achieved a milestone by reaching a semifinal, an accomplishment that later served as a reference point for Alexander Zverev's career.

2006: Youngest player in top 20 since Djokovic

In 2006, Novak Djokovic achieved a milestone as the youngest player to debut in the top 20, an accomplishment that later served as a reference point for Alexander Zverev's career.

2007: David Nalbandian's Multiple Masters Titles

In 2007, David Nalbandian was the last player outside of the Big Four to win multiple Masters titles in the same season, a feat Zverev later matched.

2007: Youngest Masters champion since Djokovic

In 2007, Novak Djokovic achieved a milestone as the youngest Masters champion, an accomplishment that later served as a reference point for Alexander Zverev's career.

2009: Youngest Challenger title winner since Tomic

In 2009, Bernard Tomic set a record as the youngest player to win a Challenger title, a milestone later recognized in comparison to Alexander Zverev's achievement.

January 2011: First junior match

In January 2011, at the age of 13, Alexander Zverev played his first junior match at a grade 4 tournament in Poland, marking the beginning of his junior tennis career.

2011: Enters Qualifying at Moselle Open

In 2011, at the age of 14, Alexander Zverev entered qualifying for three tournaments, including the Moselle Open on the ATP Tour, but was unsuccessful in his matches.

August 2012: First Professional Main Draw Win

In August 2012, Alexander Zverev secured his first professional main draw win against Christian Lichtenegger at a Futures event in Germany.

2012: First ITF Title

In early 2012, Alexander Zverev won his first ITF title at the Fujairah Junior Championships, a low-level Grade 4 tournament held in the United Arab Emirates.

2013: Jez Green began working with Zverev

Fitness trainer Jez Green, who previously worked with Andy Murray, began working with Zverev in 2013.

2013: Runner-up at the French Open

In 2013, Alexander Zverev finished as the runner-up at the French Open, showcasing his talent and potential on the court.

2013: Early season success in doubles

In 2013, Zverev won his first Grade 1 title over Andrey Rublev at the Open International Junior de Beaulieu-sur-Mer, followed by his first Grade A title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio. He finished runner-up at the French Open and Junior International Roehampton, but had to retire at Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury. He also reached the semifinals of the Junior US Open.

2013: Former World Number 3 and 2013 French Open Finalist David Ferrer

In 2020, Zverev started to work with former World Number 3 and 2013 French Open Finalist David Ferrer

2013: ATP Tour Debut

In July 2013, Alexander Zverev made his main draw debut on the ATP Tour, losing to Roberto Bautista Agut at the International German Open in his hometown.

2014: Wins the Australian Open

In 2014, Alexander Zverev achieved victory at the Australian Open, marking a significant milestone in his career.

2014: 2014 Australian Open Junior Title

In 2014, Alexander Zverev won the junior major singles title at the Australian Open, highlighting his early potential.

2014: Stan Wawrinka Champion at Australian Open

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka won the Australian Open. In 2020, Zverev defeated Wawrinka in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in four sets.

2014: Wins singles events in Australia

In January 2014, Alexander Zverev participated in two tournaments in Australia, where he emerged victorious in the singles events of both, securing a win against Omar Jasika at the Traralgon Junior International and defeating Stefan Kozlov at the Australian Open.

2014: Braunschweig Challenger Victory

In July 2014, Alexander Zverev had his first professional breakthrough by winning the Braunschweig Challenger, securing his first professional title, defeating players like Tobias Kamke, Andrey Golubev, and Paul-Henri Mathieu, who were all ranked in the top 100.

2016: Hopman Cup with Sabine Lisicki

In 2016, Alexander Zverev competed at the Hopman Cup with Sabine Lisicki. They won against the French team, with Zverev winning both his singles and mixed doubles matches. However, they were shut out against Great Britain and Australia Green and did not advance to the final.

2016: Davis Cup Debut

In 2016, Alexander Zverev made his Davis Cup debut for Germany against the Czech Republic. He faced Tomáš Berdych, leading two sets to one but ultimately losing in five. After the Czech Republic won the doubles rubber, and Kohlschreiber won both singles matches, Zverev faced Lukáš Rosol in a decisive fifth rubber and lost, sending the Czech Republic into the next round.

2016: Australian Open and Open Sud de France

In 2016, Alexander Zverev participated in the Australian Open, facing Andy Murray but struggling to win games. He then bounced back at the Open Sud de France, reaching the semifinals in singles and the final in doubles with his brother, while also upsetting Marin Čilić.

2016: First ATP title at St. Petersburg Open

In 2016, Alexander Zverev won his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open, defeating Tomáš Berdych and Stan Wawrinka. He also defeated Dominic Thiem at the China Open and became the first teenager since Boris Becker in 1986 to record three consecutive victories against top ten opponents, eventually rising to No. 20 in the ATP rankings.

2017: 2017 Italian Open victory

In 2017, Alexander Zverev achieved his best result in Rome by winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open.

2017: Singles and Doubles Titles

In 2017, Alexander Zverev won both the singles and doubles events at the Open Sud de France with his brother Mischa, and made his first Masters quarterfinal at the Miami Open, upsetting Stan Wawrinka along the way.

2017: Tennis Idol Roger Federer

In 2017, Zverev identified Roger Federer as his tennis idol. He is also a fan of the Miami Heat and Bayern Munich.

2017: Laver Cup debut

In 2017, Zverev participated in the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague, securing four points for Team Europe by winning both of his singles matches, contributing to their 15–9 victory over Team World.

2017: Davis Cup Against Belgium

In 2017, during the Davis Cup against Belgium, Alexander Zverev recorded his first career match win in the competition against Arthur De Greef. However, he lost the doubles rubber with his brother and his second singles match to Steve Darcis, resulting in Belgium winning the tie 4–1.

2017: Hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero

In the summer of 2017, Zverev hired Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Washington Open.

August 2018: Ivan Lendl joined Zverev's team

In August 2018, Ivan Lendl became part of Zverev's coaching team.

2018: Laver Cup clinching match

In 2018, Alexander Zverev played a crucial role in the Laver Cup, winning the clinching match against Kevin Anderson.

2018: 2018 ATP Finals Title

In 2018, Alexander Zverev secured the title at the ATP Finals, showcasing his dominance in the sport.

2018: Davis Cup Tie Win

In 2018, Alexander Zverev won his first Davis Cup tie, securing both of his singles matches against Alex de Minaur and Kyrgios, leading Germany to a 3–1 victory over Australia. In the quarterfinals, Germany led against Spain, but Spain ultimately won the tie.

July 2019: Split with Ivan Lendl

In July 2019, Zverev and Ivan Lendl ended their coaching relationship due to disappointing results and personal differences.

October 2019: Description of Alleged Violence Escalating

In August 2021, a second article by Rothenberg included this description of the alleged violence escalating in October 2019.

2019: Davis Cup Qualifying Round

In 2019, Alexander Zverev participated in the Davis Cup qualifying round for Germany against Hungary, winning both of his singles matches as Germany won the tie 5–0. However, he did not participate in the finals in November.

2019: Laver Cup clinching match

In 2019, Alexander Zverev played a crucial role again in the Laver Cup, winning the clinching match against Milos Raonic, continuing to be a key player for Team Europe.

2019: Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Madrid Open

In 2019, Stefanos Tsitsipas was a finalist at the Madrid Open, Zverev took revenge in 2022 at the same tournament.

2019: Hopman Cup Final Rematch

In 2019, Zverev and Angelique Kerber reached the Hopman Cup final again, setting up a rematch with Federer and Bencic. Despite winning all six of their singles matches in the round-robin group, they lost the final mixed doubles match to Switzerland.

2019: 2019 Season: Australian Open, Mexican Open, Geneva Open

In 2019, Zverev reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, losing to Milos Raonic. He finished runner-up at the Mexican Open to Nick Kyrgios. He won his only title of the year at the Geneva Open, defeating Nicolás Jarry. He also reached the quarterfinal at the French Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

2019: Partnered with Angelique Kerber in 2019

In 2024, Zverev partnered with Angelique Kerber in the mixed doubles for the first time since 2019 at the United Cup.

2019: Accusation of violence during the 2019 Laver Cup

In October 2020, Olga Sharypova named multiple instances where Zverev allegedly became violent towards her, including punching her in the face during an argument that took place in the pair's hotel room while Zverev was competing at the 2019 Laver Cup.

May 2020: Description of Alleged Incident by Patea

In November 2023, Patea spoke publicly about the alleged abuse in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, detailing an incident in May 2020 where Zverev allegedly pushed her into a wall and choked her.

May 2020: Alleged Abuse Incident in May 2020

In October 2023, a penalty order was issued against Zverev for an incident that allegedly occurred in May 2020, involving physical abuse and damage to the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin.

June 2020: Zverev's self-isolation after Adria Tour

In June 2020, after Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour led to several COVID-19 cases, Zverev announced self-isolation after testing negative. However, he was later seen at a party in Monaco, drawing criticism.

October 2020: Olga Sharypova's accusations of abuse

In October 2020, Zverev's ex-girlfriend, Olga Sharypova, accused him of physical and emotional abuse. She cited instances of violence, including an alleged assault during the 2019 Laver Cup, which Zverev denied.

2020: US Open Loss

Alexander Zverev had his first loss from being up two sets to love in a 5-set match against Dominic Thiem in the final of the 2020 US Open.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Gold Medal

In 2020, Alexander Zverev won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2020: Working with David Ferrer

In 2020, Zverev began working with David Ferrer.

2020: 2020 Season: ATP Cup, Australian Open, Cologne Wins, and Paris Masters Final

In 2020, Zverev participated in the ATP Cup, representing Germany. At the Australian Open, he pledged to donate his prize money to bushfire relief if he won. He reached the semifinals, losing to Dominic Thiem. He won two ATP 250 events in Cologne, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime and Diego Schwartzman. He also reached the final of the Paris Masters, losing to Daniil Medvedev, and was eliminated in the group stage of the ATP Finals.

January 2021: Split with David Ferrer

In January 2021, Zverev and David Ferrer announced the end of their coaching partnership.

July 2021: 2021: Wimbledon and Return to Top 5

In July 2021, Zverev reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for a second time, defeating Tallon Griekspoor, Tennys Sandgren and Taylor Fritz. He was then defeated by Félix Auger-Aliassime. Following this run, he returned to the top 5 in world rankings.

August 2021: Injunction against Slate Magazine and Mary Carillo's Resignation

In August 2021, Zverev secured an injunction against Slate, barring publication of assault allegations without stronger evidence. Mary Carillo resigned from her role at the 2021 Laver Cup due to ATP's handling of the allegations.

August 2021: Release of Second Article by Rothenberg

In August 2021, a second article by Rothenberg was released in Slate magazine about the allegations was released, picking up where the first left off.

November 2021: 2021 Rolex Paris Masters Semifinal and Career-High Ranking

In November 2021, Zverev reached the semifinals of the 2021 Rolex Paris Masters, losing to Daniil Medvedev. As a result, he equaled his singles career-high ranking of World No. 3 on November 8, 2021.

2021: Career-best results in 2021

In 2021 Alexander Zverev achieved career-best results, demonstrating his peak performance during that period.

2021: 2021 ATP Finals Title

In 2021, Alexander Zverev once again won the title at the ATP Finals, solidifying his position as a top player.

2021: ATP Finals Qualification

In 2021, Alexander Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. He was drawn in the red group and defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev, but failed to qualify for the semifinals due to win-loss percentage in sets.

2021: BNP Paribas Open Quarterfinals

In 2021, Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2021, defeating Christopher O'Connell, Tallon Griekspoor, and Alex de Minaur before losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

2021: Playing with Germany in the group stage

In 2021, Zverev represented Germany in a group stage against Canada and Serbia, where he won against Denis Shapovalov but lost to Novak Djokovic in singles. He and Jan-Lennard Struff won against Djokovic and Nikola Ćaćić in doubles, helping Germany advance to the semifinals where they lost to Russia.

2021: Birth of Daughter Mayla

In 2021, Zverev's daughter Mayla was born with his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea.

2021: Jez Green departed Zverev's team

In 2021, after working with Zverev for around seven years, fitness trainer Jez Green departed from his team.

2021: 2021 Season: Monte Carlo and Munich Tournaments

In 2021, during the clay season, Zverev reached the third round in Monte Carlo, losing to David Goffin. He then reached the quarterfinals in Munich, losing to Ilya Ivashka.

2021: 2021 Western & Southern Open Victory

In 2021, following the Olympics, Zverev reached his second Masters 1000 final of the year at the Western & Southern Open after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas. He beat Andrey Rublev for his 17th career title, the fourth of the season, in a very short match.

2021: Winning the Laver Cup in 2021

In 2024, Zverev won his first team event since the Laver Cup in 2021.

2021: 2021 Season: ATP Cup, Australian Open, Acapulco Title

In February 2021, Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup, reaching the semi-finals. At the Australian Open, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Novak Djokovic. In March, he won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas.

2021: Laver Cup Victory

In the 2021 edition of the Laver Cup in Boston, Alexander Zverev defeated John Isner in three sets in his only match, contributing to Team Europe's 14–1 win.

2021: Dating Sophia Thomalla

Since 2021, Zverev has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla.

June 2022: 2022 French Open Injury and Career-High Ranking

In June 2022, at the French Open, Zverev reached the semifinals but had to retire due to a severe ankle injury during his match against Rafael Nadal. He underwent surgery on June 8, 2022. Despite the injury, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13, 2022.

June 2022: First Match Win Since June 2022

June 2022 marks the period before Zverev's win at the Australian Open where he won his first match since June 2022, beating Juan Pablo Varillas.

August 2022: Zverev Announces Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis and Launches Foundation

In August 2022, Alexander Zverev publicly announced that he has type 1 diabetes, revealing he was diagnosed at the age of three. Coinciding with this announcement, he launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals living with diabetes.

2022: Career-best results in 2022

In 2022 Alexander Zverev achieved career-best results, demonstrating his peak performance during that period.

2022: 2022 Season

In 2022, Alexander Zverev lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Madrid Open, causing his ranking to fall. He reached the fourth round of the Italian Open before losing to Daniil Medvedev, further impacting his ranking. At the French Open, he reached the semi-finals, losing to Casper Ruud.

2022: 2022 Season: ATP Cup and Australian Open

In 2022, Zverev started the season representing Germany at the ATP Cup. At the Australian Open, seeded third, he reached the fourth round, where he was defeated by Denis Shapovalov.

2022: Defaulted from Mexican Open

In 2022, Zverev was defaulted from the Mexican Open after repeatedly striking the umpire's chair with his racket. He received fines and a suspended ban.

January 2023: ATP Investigation Concludes Without Punishment

In late January 2023, the ATP concluded its investigation into the allegations against Zverev, stating that there was insufficient evidence to warrant punishment.

July 2023: Second Woman's Allegations Become Public

In July 2023, allegations from a second woman, Brenda Patea, became public through a court filing, leading to a penalty order for alleged bodily harm.

October 2023: Penalty Order Issued Against Zverev

On 2 October 2023, a Berlin court issued a penalty order against Zverev for physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020.".

November 2023: Patea Speaks Publicly About Alleged Abuse

On 1 November 2023, Patea spoke publicly about the alleged abuse in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, detailing an incident in May 2020 where Zverev allegedly pushed her into a wall and choked her.

2023: Return to Top Form

Alexander Zverev's performance in the 2023 US Open, particularly his match against Jannik Sinner, combined with his Roland Garros semi-final appearance, solidified his return to top form.

2023: Insulin Injection Controversy at the French Open

During a match at the 2023 French Open, Alexander Zverev faced a situation where he was initially disallowed from injecting insulin on-court, leading to criticism from organizations like the International Diabetes Federation and the JDRF. Subsequently, tournament organizers clarified that Zverev would be permitted to administer insulin on-court.

2023: US Open Controversy and Quarterfinal Loss

During his 2023 US Open match against Jannik Sinner, Zverev halted play due to a fan shouting a stanza from "Deutschlandlied", which Zverev interpreted as a Nazi sentiment. He lost the quarterfinals match against Carlos Alcaraz after winning a five-set match against Jannik Sinner.

2023: ATP Finals Qualification

In 2023, Alexander Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. At the event, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev while losing to Medvedev. He failed to qualify for the semifinals.

2023: Settlement in Lawsuit with Ex-Partner

In 2023, Zverev reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by his ex-partner, Brenda Patea.

2023: Representing Germany at the United Cup and Australian Open

In 2023, Zverev represented Germany at the United Cup, losing matches to Jiří Lehečka and Taylor Fritz, causing Germany to fail to qualify for the knockout round. Seeded 12th at the Australian Open, he won his first match since June 2022 by beating Juan Pablo Varillas in the first round but was defeated in the second round by Michael Mmoh.

January 2024: Appointment to ATP Council and Break Point Feature

In January 2024, Zverev was appointed to the ATP Players Advisory Council, sparking criticism due to pending domestic abuse charges. He was also featured on Netflix's "Break Point", which faced criticism for omitting the abuse allegations.

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May 2024: Trial Begins in Berlin Criminal Court

In May 2024, Zverev's trial in the Berlin Criminal Court began, coinciding with his semifinal run at the Australian Open, which heightened scrutiny of the allegations.

June 2024: Charges Dropped in Abuse Case

On 7 June 2024, the trial against Zverev was terminated as the judge dropped all charges due to an out-of-court settlement. Zverev agreed to pay €200,000, without admitting guilt.

2024: Zverev's playing style and surfaces as of 2024

As of 2024, Zverev hasn't won a title on grass, but has reached two finals. He does not aim to be better on any surface in particular. Six of his first ten titles came on hard courts, while the other four were on clay.

2024: 2024 Laver Cup Victory

At the 2024 Laver Cup edition in Berlin, Zverev defeated Francis Tiafoe to deny Team World a three-peat, as Team Europe went on to win the Laver Cup for a fifth time, overtaking Team World 5–2 in the series.

2024: Rolex Paris Masters Victory

At the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters, Alexander Zverev won the tournament by defeating Ugo Humbert in the final, securing his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season and reclaiming the World No. 2 ranking.

2024: US Open Quarterfinals and 450th Career Win

At the 2024 US Open, Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals and achieved his 450th career win, becoming the second player born in the 1990s to reach this milestone. He subsequently lost to Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals and qualified for his seventh appearance at the ATP Finals.

2024: 2024 Clay Season

In 2024, Alexander Zverev began his clay season seeded fifth at the Monte-Carlo Masters and reached the third round. As the top seed at the BMW Open, he was upset in the quarterfinals. Seeded fourth in Madrid, he reached the fourth round. Seeded third in Rome, Zverev won his sixth Masters title at the 2024 Italian Open.

2024: Hamburg Open Final

In 2024, Alexander Zverev reached the final at the Hamburg Open but lost to Arthur Fils in three sets.

2024: Winning the United Cup for Team Germany

In 2024, Zverev led Team Germany to victory at the United Cup in Sydney, Australia. He won his singles matches against Lorenzo Sonego and Adrian Mannarino. Partnering with Laura Siegemund, he won the decisive mixed doubles match against Poland, securing the title for Germany.

2024: French Open Final Appearance

In 2024, Zverev reached his fourth consecutive French Open semifinal and defeated Casper Ruud to reach his first Major final since the 2020 US Open. He lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in a controversial match.

April 2025: Bavarian Open Win and Madrid Open Round of 16

On April 2025, Zverev won the Bavarian Open in Munich for the third time, gaining his 24th title and reclaiming the number 2 spot from Alcaraz. During that month, he reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open.